Pressurization type cap assembly having storage chamber for secondary material

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a cap assembly mounted on a discharging portion of a container for containing an ingredient different from that in accommodated in a container, which comprise a cap body having a housing formed with a chamber for storage of a secondary ingredient, a closing element provided at a lower end opening of the housing for opening the lower end opening under pressure so as to open the lower end opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a Section 371 National Stage Application ofInternational patent application Serial No. PCT/KR2006/005427, filedDec. 13, 2006, and published as WO 2007/073055 on Jun. 28, 2007, inEnglish the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cap assembly for closing a containerand more particularly to a cap assembly having a storage chamber forcontaining a secondary material(ingredient) for example a concentratedliquid or a granule different from a material(ingredient) for examplewater or a beverage accommodated in a container.

Such a cap assembly is useful in the various industrial fields such asmedical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and etc.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, when a beverage that requires mixing up a liquid in acontainer with a granule or a concentrate liquid as additives orsecondary ingredients such as carbon dioxide, vitamin powder, etc, it isoften necessary that the container has a separate chamber for storagethe secondary ingredients.

There are many suggestions more than 5,000 including U.S. Pat. No.937,049(filed on Oct. 19, 1909) about the structure for mixing two ormore ingredients in a container.

However, the containers disclosed in the above patents have notcommercially succeeded because of the problems such as inefficiency in amanufacture process, inconvenience in use, etc.

There are further needs for more easily handling of a cap assembly and acontainer for mixing one or more ingredients in an ingredient containedin a container without problems of changing a structure or an injury ofan elbow caused by acting an excessive force to open a dischargingdevice for use.

Recently, PCT/EP2002/004523 filed on Jan. 17, 2002 and Japanese PatentApplication No. 2001-00185428 filed on Jun. 19, 2001 suggested otherstructure, but a commercial success has not been obtained.

Particularly, the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Applicationmentioned above has a problem that a piece cut out from a dischargingport falls into a container and a child may swallow it. To overcome thisproblem, a discharging device which is not separated from a novel neckof a container has been developed, but such a discharging device couldnot be used to a conventional neck of a container.

Furthermore, there is a discharging device which is maintained at a neckof a container with a pressure in the container and is opened when thepressure is removed in the container. However, such a discharging devicecan not be used at a container in which a pressure is not applied.

Also, there is an impacting device which is adapted to rupture a sealingfilm by shaking it for use so as to discharge a secondary ingredientfrom a storage chamber into a container, but there is a problem that theimpacting device is likely to open the storage chamber by an unexpectedsmall impacting.

To prevent the accidental opening the storage chamber, the impactingdevice should be tightly assembled. However, in this case, anotherproblem that the weight of the impacting device should be increased iscaused.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide acap assembly with a storage chamber for a secondary ingredient to beconveniently mixed with a primary ingredient contained in a containerunder the pressurized condition.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap assemblyadapted to a conventional container without change thereof.

Technical Solution

In order to accomplish the above-mentioned objects, according to thepresent invention, a cap assembly is mounted on a discharging portion ofa container for containing an ingredient different from that inaccommodated in a container, comprising:

a cap body having a housing formed with a chamber for storage of asecondary ingredient;

a closing element provided at a lower end opening of the housing foropening the lower end opening under pressure so as to open the lower endopening.

When the container is pressed, the closing element sealing the lower endopening may be raised for opening a lower end opening so as to dischargethe secondary ingredient through the lower end opening to be mixed withthe primary ingredient in the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects, other features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent by describing the preferredembodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of cap assembly in accordance with afirst embodiment of the present invention, which is mounted at a neck ofan evacuated container;

FIG. 2 shows the cap assembly in FIG. 1, of which the housing is in apressurized condition;

FIG. 3 shows the opening process of the housing for discharging asecondary ingredient from FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 shows a complete opening state of the housing of the capassembly; and

FIGS. 5 to 38 are cross-sectional views of a cap assembly in accordancewith the various embodiments of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the resentinvention in detail. In the following description of the presentinvention, the same drawing reference numerals are used for the sameelements even in different drawings, and the duplicate explanationthereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows a cap assembly 1 in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention, which may be mounted to a neck of acontainer for example a beverage container in such a way of aconventional thread engagement, a snap-fit engagement or adhering type.

The cap assembly in FIG. 1 comprises a cap body 10, which comprises atop portion 11 and a cylindrical portion 12, including a housing 20formed with a chamber 21. The housing 20 has a lower end opening 22which is sealed by a closing element 30.

The chamber 21 contains a secondary ingredient with the lower endopening sealed by the closing element 30 such that the closing element30 is moved to open the lower end opening by putting pressure on acontainer.

The closing element 30 is provided with a sealing member 31 and thepressure for opening the lower end opening of the housing may be changedaccording to the engaging force between the sealing member 31 and theinside surface of the lower end.

It is preferred to assemble the housing 20 to the cap body 10 with asecondary ingredient contained in the chamber 21.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cap assembly with the housing having thesecondary ingredient in the chamber is mounted to the neck of thecontainer 100 which contains a primary ingredient under the reducedpressure or evacuated condition.

When the container 100 is pressed for use, the closing element 30 ispushed under the increased pressure in the container into the housingand thus the lower end opening 22 of the housing 20 is opened, therebydischarging the secondary ingredient in the chamber 21 into thecontainer so that the primary ingredient in the container and thesecondary ingredient may be mixed.

According to my observation, the opening speed of the closing element 30is changed according to the amount of the secondary ingredient containedin the chamber 21.

Also, the opening speed of the closing element 30 may be changedaccording to the size of the lower end opening 22.

When the chamber 21 is under pressure, the open speed of the closingelement 30 is decreased. When the container 100 is evacuated, thedischarging speed of the secondary ingredient from the chamber 21 intothe container is increased.

Furthermore, the container 100 is more strongly pressed, the dischargingof the secondary ingredient from the chamber into the container isspeedier.

The opening procedures of the closing element 30 by the pressing of thecontainer 100 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In FIGS. 5 to 7, it is shown that the respective valve-typed closingelements 30 are adapted to resiliently open the lower end opening of thehousing under pressure.

In FIGS. 8 to 11, it is shown that the closing element 30 is adapted tobe pivotally moved to open the lower end opening of the housing.

For the pivotal movement of the closing element 30, it is preferred thata pivot shaft 23 is transversely provided at the lower end opening 22 ofthe housing 20 and a protrusion 32 formed at the underside of theclosing element and a separate sealing member 31 is provided at theperiphery thereof.

Furthermore, the closing element 30 is provided with a stopper 33 sothat the closing element moved to the opening position can not to returnto the initial closing position.

FIG. 9 shows the closing element 30 in an opening state and FIG. 10shows the opened state of the lower end opening 22 is maintained by thestopper 33.

FIG. 11 shows the pivot shaft 31 has an oval-shaped section forresilient opening movement thereof.

FIG. 12 shows that a shoulder 24 is formed at the lower end opening 22to support the closing element 30 as shown in FIG. 9, thereby improvingthe sealing between the closing element and the opening.

FIG. 13 shows a variant structure of the closing element 30, which isadapted to be maintained in an opened position.

FIG. 14 shows that a mesh-typed maintaining member 25 is provided at thelower end opening 22 for maintaining the closing member 30 in an openingposition so as to block the lower end opening.

FIG. 15 shows a variant structure of the closing member 30, whichcomprises a boss portion engaged with the inside of the lower endopening and a movable portion connected to the boss portion so as tomaintain the movable portion in an opening position.

The top portion is modified to have a weakened portion 13 for insertionof a straw (S).

FIG. 16 shows an another embodiment of the cap assembly, which furthercomprises a punching pin 26 for rupturing a thin film-typed closingelement 30, so that the punching pin 26 may rupture the thin-filmclosing element 30 under pressurization for opening the lower endopening 22.

FIG. 17 shows a variant of the punching pin 14, which is different fromthat shown in FIG. 16 in that it is formed at the underside of the topportion 11 of the cap body 10.

FIG. 18 shows a variant of the closing element 30, which has an O-ringshape. Preferably, the O-ring shaped closing element 30 is adapted notto return to the closing position by a shoulder 27 formed at thevicinity of the lower end opening 22.

Also, it is preferable to provide a separate plug 40 at the top portionof the cap body 10 for blocking an upper opening.

FIG. 19 shows a variant of the housing 20, which is adapted to cover theupper opening of the chamber by means of a sealing member 50.

FIG. 20 shows a connection structure of the housing 20 and the cap body10 by means of engaging shoulders 15 and 28 to improve the connectionthereof.

FIG. 21 shows a variant of the cap body 10, which is adapted to seal anupper opening of the cap body 10 by means of the sealing member 50.

FIG. 22 shows another variant of the cap body 10 having a sealingstructure by means of the sealing member 50.

FIG. 23 shows another variant of the closing element 30 which is formedby extrusion.

FIG. 24 shows another variant of the closing element 30 which is formedin a sphere shape.

FIGS. 25 to 28 show the uses of the cap assembly of the presentinvention in a container having a separate cap 60 or a collapsiblestructure, respectively.

FIG. 29 shows the use of the cap assembly of the present invention atthe discharging device of a pouch-typed container.

FIGS. 30 to 32 show the use of the cap assembly of the present inventionas a cap in a type of snap-fit engagement.

FIGS. 33 and 34 show the use of the cap assembly of the presentinvention at a paper pack.

The cap assembly of the present invention may be adopted at a bottom ofa container as shown in FIG. 35 and at a cap of a can as shown in FIG.36.

FIGS. 37 and 38 show an adoption of he cap assembly of the presentinvention at a discharging device of the container 1, respectively.

For example, as shown in FIG. 37, when the cap 80 is opened, thedischarging device 81 is raised and then the lower end opening 22 may beopened by pulling the closing element 30 or be opened by pressing thecontainer.

Alternatively, the closing element 30 of the present invention may beadopted to the container 1 having the discharging device 81.

Industrial Applicability

As apparent from the above description, the cap assembly of the presentinvention may be adapted to accommodate a concentrate liquid or agranule to be mixed which a water, a beverage or other liquid in thecontainer with an easy and improved mixing two different materials,which may be advantageous in the various industrial fields such asmedical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and etc.

While the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present inventionhas been shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes knownto persons skilled in the art according to the present invention areconsidered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined inthe appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A container and cap assembly, the capassembly mounted on a discharging portion of the container forcontaining an ingredient different from that contained in a container,comprising: a beverage contained in the container; a cap body having ahousing formed with a chamber for storage of a secondary ingredient, thecap body threadably coupled to a neck of the container, the housingcontaining a secondary ingredient which is different from the beverage;a closing element provided at a lower end opening of the housing forsealing the lower end opening, wherein the closing element moves intothe housing and in a direction away from the container and the beveragedue to pressure within the container increasing thereby allowing thesecondary ingredient to exit the housing and enter the container, thecap body and the container fixedly attached to prevent relative movementtherebetween.
 2. A cap assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein thehousing is assembled to the cap body.
 3. A container and cap assembly,the cap assembly mounted on a discharging portion of the container forcontaining an ingredient different from that contained in a container,comprising: a beverage contained in the container; a cap body having ahousing formed with a chamber for storage of a secondary ingredient, thecap body threadably coupled to a neck of the container, the housingcontaining a secondary ingredient which is different from the beverage;a closing element provided at a lower end opening of the housing foropening the lower end opening under pressure, so that the secondaryingredient may be discharged into the container so as to be mixed with aprimary ingredient in the container, wherein the closing element movesinto the housing and in a direction away from the container and thebeverage in response to an increase in pressure within the container andthe secondary ingredient exits the housing and enters the container, thecap body and the container fixedly attached to prevent relative movementbetween the housing and the neck of the container while the closingelement moves into the housing.
 4. A cap assembly in accordance withclaim 3, wherein when the container is pressed, the closing elementsealing the lower end opening is raised for opening a lower end openingso as to discharge the secondary ingredient through the lower endopening to be mixed with the primary ingredient in the container.
 5. Thecap assembly in accordance of claim 1 including a sealing member on theclosing element configured to seal the closing element to the housingthereby preventing the secondary ingredient from mixing with thebeverage.
 6. The cap assembly in accordance of claim 3 including asealing member on the closing element configured to seal the closingelement to the housing thereby preventing the secondary ingredient frommixing with the beverage.